The Gumpster Syndrome

Just what is the "Gumpster Syndrome" you ask? It is when an old fart loses his spouse to death, and then goes kinda nutty. You have to be at least 65 years old, and have nothing to offer someone. You have to be really good at lying. As soon as their wife is laid to rest, the vulture women come calling. Never mind the older, more mature woman, it is the younger single mother kind, who has at least three or more teenagers. Of course they don't receive any kind of child support, and they own nothing, ya know, the kind that rents. But if you are lucky, they might own a beat up van with worn out tires. They are more than happy to take over where the mother left off. They say that they don't want anything that belongs to the first wife, but won't let the man give anything of value to the kids. That territory is theirs , because they have their hook in now, and marriage is just days away. Never mind that the man collects pensions and social security, that is better than nothing. The best thing is that these men can marry in the temple more than once, so temple wedding it is! When the wedding day comes, the couple cannot figure out why everyone is crying, and really doesn't' want to be there. I didn't bother to show up. Could it be that the loved one hasn't been in the ground long enough? Or could it be that the loved one was really loved, and now missed a lot? Don't bother giving gifts, they have it all. The new wife is younger than your own daughter and is anxious to be "grandma " to the grand kids. The new groom gets to look forward to giving away his new step children at their weddings, and maybe even get to send a few on a mission. Life is great. The family is now fractured beyond belief, and no one comes to the family gatherings anymore. Every one does their own thing and hopes someday someone will come to their senses. But the new wife is happy. She gets to serve dinner on the dead wife's china, gets the sewing machine, and makes sure nothing material leaves the house. The "old family" is no longer welcome in the new home. the love nest. It never gets better..........

This has happened twice in our family. Two people that I really love are suffering right now. Judy doesn't even have a headstone on her grave.........